Weft-replenishing loom.



PATENTED FEB. '5, 1907.

W- P. ROPER. WEI-T REPLBNISHING LOOM.

APPLIOATIQN FILED O0T.l6. 1 905.

9 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907.-

w. P, ROPER. WEPT REPLENISHING LOOM.

@UUAU ri APPLICATION FILED QOTJB. 1905.

PATBNTED FEB. 5, 1907.

W. F. ROPER.

WBPT RBPLENISHING LOOM.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.16.1905.

9 SHEETS-SHEET s.

No. 843,107. PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907. w. P. ROPBR. WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM.

APPLICATION TILED 0011.16. 1905.

$ 9 SHEETSSHEBT 5.

No. 843,107 PATENTBD PEBH5, 1907. W. P. ROPER.

WBPT REPLBNISHING LOOM.

APPLICATION FILED 0UT.16. 1905.

9 SHBETSSHEET 6.

PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907.

'w. P. ROPER. WEFT RBPLENISHING LOOM.

APPLIOATiON FILED 0GT.16. 1905.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

fwe 71/6071- No. 843,107. I PATENTBD PEBQ5, 1907. W. F. ROPER.

WEPT REPLENISHING LOOM.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.16. 1905.

9 SHEETSSHEET 8.

Wnass 5: -Zizp'enor:

C 4/ wazzfrjwm i w W. F. ROPER.

WBPT REPLENISHING LOOM. APPLIOATION FILED 001210, 1905.

PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

lll

T() DRAlER COMPAXY: OF TIOA OF MAINE.

IIOPICDALE. MASSACHUSET'IS, A CORPORA- WEFT-REPLENISHING LOOM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 5, 19.07.

Application filed October 16,1905. Serial No, 282,950.

To r117 t /mm it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, WALTER Funoniue Roman, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hopedale, m the county or \Vorcester and 5 State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful improvements in \Vefh Replenishing Looms, of which the following i is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to substantially relieve the weaver from all attention to the weft-supply of a loom, thus placing the management of the weft in the same category with that of the warp.

In accordance with the present. invention the bobbins, cops, or other weft-carriers are suitably placed in appropriate. "(:ages at any convenient place in the mill, and the end of the weft-thread of each wcftcarrier is securedto a weft-end holder with which the l cage equipped. The loom is provided with a suitable magahine of sufficient capacity to hold enough of the weft-(nu'i'iers to serve the loom for an entire day. in accordance with this invention the loom can be supplied with weft-carriers eitl'ier after the mill has shut down for the evening or before it starts in the morning, so that the work of the. weaver in connection with the loom will be in no'wise affected or disturbed by the supplying of weft-carriers to the magazine. The loom is equipped with appropriate mechanism, such as is now well known in the art, whereby a weftcarrier is automatically placed in weavingposition. in the loom when ever the condition of the running weft demands. After each transfer of a weft-carrier into weaving position has been effected the active cage is then fed forward so as to bring a second weft-carrier automatically into op l oration, and after all of the weft-carriers of each cage have been exhausted a full cage is brought automatically into action. The emptied cages are discharged automatically into a suitable receiver, as are the spent weft-carriers after use in the loom. The 'weft ends are so securedto the cages as to avoid any. entangling of the various threads in the magazine to'avoid breakage of thread and when the corresponding weft-carrier is transferred to the loom to amount of thread wasted.

v minimize the I I l t t supplysideof the loom.

One embodiment of the present improvements is illustrated in the accoml'ianying drawings, in which- .l igure l is a side view of so much of a loom equipped with the present improvements as is necessary for an uiu'terstaiuling of the same. 'lhis figure looks toward the weft- Fig. 2 is a planview. Fig. is a vertical section in the irregular plane indicated by the line 3 8 in Fig. i. Fig. +1 is a horixoutal section iirtilie irregular plane indicated by tl'e line. 4 st in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detailv vertical section in the plane indicated b v.the line 5 in Fig. 1. Fig. (i is a vertical 6 sect-ion in the plane indicated by tl'e line 6 in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a vertical section in the plane indicated by the line 7 7in Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 7, show ing the lrnnsfcrrer in the act of transferring a weft-carrier into w aving position in the loom. Fig. 9 is an under side view of one of the cages partly equipped ith oft-carriers. Fig. 10 is a top view of one of't-he cagespartly equipped with \\'(ftCl1'1lt1S. Fig. 11 is a. view of the inner side of one of the cages, showing the weft-end holders. Fig. 12 is a view of the outer side of the cage, partly in the vertical section indicated by the line 12 12; in Fig. 10. Fig. 13 is a vertical section of one ofthc'cages in the plane indicated by the line 13 13 in Fig. 10. Fig. 1-4 is a vertical section of one of the cages in the plane indicated by the line 14 14 in Fig. 10. Fig. 15 is a section of one of thc cages in the plane in- S 5 cheated by the line 15 15 in Fig. 10. Fig. 16 is a front view of one of the cages. Fig. 17 is a detail section in the plane indicated by the line 17 in Fig. 11. Fig. 18 is a detail figure of the top end of a \\"eftcarrier, showing a permissible way of carrying the end of the thread. to the weft-end holder. Fig. 19 is a. side View of the cage looking at the weft-curb holder side and illustrating a modified form of weft-end holder. Fig. 20 is a detail l1orizontal section in the plane indicated by line 20 20in Fig. 1). I

The drawings illustrate only a few of the usual features of an automatic weft-replenishing loom.

In Fig. 1 the usual cam or'low shaft A of the loom is shown, and also there is shown a reciprocating transferrer B, which is pivoted at a and is held normally uplifted by a spring I). (See Figs. 1 and 2.) This transferrer is of a type now well known in. automatic weft-replenishinglooms, being similar in general characteristics to that set forth in the United States patent of Northrop, No. 529,940, November 27, 1894. It remains normally uplifted; but on the occurrence of a contingency requiring the automatic replcnishment of weft in the loom it descends and automatically transfers ,a fresh weftcarrier into weaving position in the loom. As is'customary in connection with the automatic transfer of a weft-carrier, such as a bobbin (J, the transferrer has two fingers c (I, (see Fig. 3,) which act, respectively, upon the weft-carrier near its butt: and tip, respectively. Fig. 8 illustrates the transferrer in the act of transferring a fresh weft-carrier into a shuttle l) in position within the contiguous shuttle-box on the lay E, the spent weft-carrier being ejected at the same time and falling through an opening in the lay into a suitable receiving-chamber 0. below, as indicated in Fig. 3. in these respects the operation of theloom is similar to that of the sent well-known Northrop weft-replenishing loom.

-ln accordance with the present invention the spare weft-carriers are initially placed insuitable holders, which are here called cages. One of these cages F is illustrated in detail in Figs. 9 to 17, inclusive.

Each cage is adapted to receive and hold a pluralityof weftcarriers, as shown being capable of holding four weft-carriers.

The cage is equipped. with appropriate devices to receive and hold the welt-carriers, and these deviceswvill be hereinafter particularly describe-(1. At the time the welt carriers are placed in the cages the weft end of each wcltcarrier is'secured to a weft-end holder G, with which the cage is equipped, andpreicrably there is a separate weft-end holder for each. weft-carrier, as illustrated in Figs. 9, 10, and .17. These cages thus filled with weft-carriers are stacked within a suitable iixcd vertical magazine H, which is mounted on a iixed support I on a stationary part of the framework of the loom, such as one end of the breast-beam, as illustratcd in Figs. 1 and 2. This magazine can be of any height-for holding any desired.

number of. the cages, and this is indicated in Fig. 1- by breaking: off the top of the magazinc; azinc is made of such height as to receive a stack of cages in suilicient number to furnish enough Weft-carriers to mrtainly supply the loom for an entire da Figs. 1, '7, and 8 illustrate two of the weft-carriers located within the reservoir-chamber of the magazine, the upper cage resting: by gravity nnonthe lower one, and inspection of these Conveniently and desirably the map g figures indicates how any desired number of the cages can be stacked upon one another within the magazine.

The magazine-chamber is open at its bot tom and there communicates with a horizontal guidey'ay for the forward feed ofthe cages. As shown in Fig. 4, this guideway has horizontal guides J J, on which the lowermost and active cage rests and by virtue of which the active cage SUPPOIES the superimposed stack of cages locate within the magazine. The guideway thus constituted extends forward beneath the front wall of the magazine a sullicient distance to support the'active cage until all of the weft-carriers to the loom. The feeding mechanism is so arranged that the active cage is fed forward automatically the distance between 'two successive Weft-carriers held by it after each transfer of a weft-carrier from the cage to the loom. When the lastwei't-car'rier in the active cage is thus fed into registering posi tion below the transierrer and ready to be acted upon by the transferrer when next called into operation by the condition of the running weft, the active cage is removed from beneath the superimposed stacli of cages in the magazine, whereupon they drop down by gravity, the then lowermost oi the stack of'cages taking its position on the guides J J under the control er the feeding, mechanism. This feedin g mechanism will be hereinafter described in detail. The spent cage exhausted of its weft-carriers is fed step by step forward by the action of the feeding mechanism until it comes entirely over a fixed delivery-chute K, (see Fig, 3,).whereupon the spent cage slides down by gravity into suitable receiving-chamber f lmneath.

it will bc'noted that during the descent of the several cages within the magazine and during the forward feed of the active cage under the control of tie automatic step-by step feeding mechanism each weft-carrier, maintains a definite position relatively to its weft-end holder, so that there is no danger of the wefbtlvreads becoming entangled with each otlter or of the individual weft-threads becoming detached or catching on any part of the loom. 1 Another important feature of tie Weft-end'liolders is th at they are located at the inner side of the -I'nagazine-that is to say, at the side of tl=e magazine nearest to the selvage of tie cloth-with the result that each weft-end lolder is between its Weft-carricr and tie cloth selvagc. Hence wl'en a weft-carrier is inserted into weavin position in the loom tlere is a minimum length of weft-t. read left between tle Weft-fend l older and the selvage of the cloth to behut olli' and wasted. 'l is of importance in the case of expensive reread.

In describing the details of the improveheld by it have been transferred in succession I lOO l-IQ

ments'the construction of the weft-cages will first be considered, en the construction and mode of operation of the feeding mechanism, then the discharge oi" the spent well-cages, and finally illustrated modifications will be considered.

Each cage is composed of two malleableiron castings g g, (see Fig. 9,) connected togetlter by a sl eet-sieel top plate /i, (see Fig. 10,) the top plate and side castings being suitably riveted togetler. There is thus formed 2a strong substantial but ligi t cage capable of being readily handled without injury. At its two opposite sides and at the exterior it is provided with oppositely-projecting lugs 11 'i integral with the side castings, which cooperate wit ii the feeding lllOC- anism. The top plate I). is inade in skeleton form, by forming tl erein holes j, w.- ich reduce its weiglt, and at ti'e same time the holes near the sides allord passage for the fingers ad of the transleirer. The cage is suitably formed beneath the top plate to receive and securely. hold the weft-carriers, while at the same time permitting their ready removal under the action ot' the transferrer. Each weft-carrier is lteld both at butt and tip. The inner side casting g is provided with suitable sockets L L, (see Fig.

14,) one for each butt of the weft-carriers which the cage is adapted to hold. Preferably each cage is capable of holding a plural- -i.ty of weit-carriers, as illustrated holding wcftearrier is held by its tip in the.

\3 four weft-carriers. Each of these butt-holding sockets L has an open mouth at tlzelower end to permit the downward discharge of its weft-carrier, and it is of appropriate shape to receive and h old ti e butt of the welt-carrier, as, further illustrated in Figs. 15 and 17. in addition each socket has recesses Z, into which. the end;ring m of a weft-carrier fits when in place. Ti ese recesses Z Z are at oposite sides of tie socket, and t] e distance etween their lower corners n n is less than the major diameter of ring m. Conse quently the butt of tie weft-carrier cannot be displaced downwardly except by a slight but sullicient endwise movement of the weft carrier to clear the ring in from the recesses Z Z. This eilectuall y prevents any accidental discharge or displacement of the weft-mu riers in the cage. Nevertleless under tlc force applied by t e transfcrrer tle weft-carrier is readily displaced endwise, so as to become freed from these retaining-recesses, the manner in which the weft-carrier tip is held permitting this endwisc movement. Each cage by a ivo'ted spring-pressed latch M. (Best shown in Fi 's. 12, 13, and 15.) As here sl'zown, each latch M is pivotally connected near its upper end to the cage, and at its lower end it is pressed inwardly by a spring. I On its innor face each latch has a circular recess to receive the tip of the weft-carrier, as clearly shown in Fig. 15. The inner face of the lower end of the latch M is beveled or rounded at o in Fig. 15,50 as to facilitate il'e placing of the weft-carriers in pla we in, tee cage. T1 e wel'tcarriers are readily placed in position in the cage. Conveniently a w'eft-carrier butt is first placed in one of the sockets L, and i110 tip is then brought against the beveled end 0 of the latch, thereby pressing tl'e latch back against. the tension of its spring, so that tle tip of tlic \\'ettcarrier seats in titc recess intended for it. Tltereupon t e spring restores ti o latch to its holding position. As shown in Fig. 13, t re latch has side flanges p, wl ich aid in guiding and directing the weft-carrier tip into place. When the transi'errer acts, the latch M yields, thus permitting slightendwise movement of tlie \y'eltearrier to free its ring m from the socket-recesses Z l, and the weftcarrier is then thrust downwardly by the translerrer into the shuttle beneath, as illus tratcd in Fig. 8.

The weft-carrier illustrated is one of wellknown construction used in the Northrop loom, having the projecting rings at at its butt, wlich enable it to be grasped and held by bobbin-lolding aws in the shuttle, as set forth in the patent of Northrop, No. 454,807, June 28, 180i.

The shuttle employed is one of the automatic-tln'eading type such as is set forth, for example, in the Northrop patent, No. 454,S()T*-and in connection with such a shuttle the welt-carriers are so placed in the magazine that their butt-ends arc toward the selvage oi the cloth--tl1a t is to say, when the cages are in place in the magazine, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the weft-carrier butts are at the inner side of the magazine and are hence presented toward the adjacent sclvage of the cloth. These considerations detsrmine the location oi the weft-end holders G on the cages. Each cage has preferably as many welt-end holders as it holds welt-carriers, as illustrated in- Fig. 1]. The end of the thread of each welt-carrier is first led toward the weft-carrier tip and thence through an open thread-guide 1 in the latch M, (best shown in Figs. 12 and 13,) and the thread is thence led alongside the unit-carrier (see Fig. 9) to the inner side ol the cage. The thread then passes through a notched thread-guide r on the edge ol' the inner side (see Figs. l) and 11) and thence upwardly through a depressed tln'ead-guiding recess 8 in the outer Face of the inner side 1 (see Figs. 1] and 7) to the weft-end holder G. This holder, as shown, consists of a strip ol" sheet metal with its ends outwardly bent and secured by a screw to the outer wall of the inner side, as

best shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11,. The end ot' the thread is secured to the holder between it and the outer wall of the cage side. The purpose of the recessed thread-guides r s is inf-2g to ensble the thread. to be kept away from the edge and well of the cage, so as to avoid any chafing of the thread during the occupancy of the magazine by the or during its feed. The thread is thus fully protected at all times. The circumstance that the thread is led first toward the tip of the woftcarrier, thence around a thread-guide, such as '9, and thence along the weft-carrier to a holder located between the butt of the weftcarrier and the selvslge of the cloth is a mat ire-r of importance. the weft-carrier to the shuttle the initial movement of the weft-carrier frees the thread from the threcd=guide (1 near the Weft-carrier tip, thus leaving slack the thread extending from said thread-guide g to the thread-holder G. This amount of slack thread is sufficient to enable the weft-carrier to be deposited into. theshuttle on the lay Without involving any strain on the thread, hence avoiding thread breakage during the transfer. At the some time, owing to the location of the weftend holder between the butt of the weft-carrier and the selva e of the cloth, there is only 9. short length oi "thread which is Wasted.

During the entire occupancy of the cage by the'weftesr1ier the weft-end holder goes with the weft-carrier and always occupies the some relation thereto until the transfer to the loom is made. There is nothing to chute the thread or to cause it to loosen or become slack, so that there is no entsngling of the threods'of the 'difi'erent weft-carriers" and no damage occurs to the threads. I At the same time when all of the weft-carriers have been transferred from the cage to the loom and the the loom is equipped,-as'customarily, with a throadruttor for cutting the weft between the ad acent selvsge or the cloth and the welt-end holder after each weft-carrier has been inserted into weaving position in the loom. lhcse urges are conveniently supplicd with weft-carriers, and the weft ends are readily and conveniently secured. This Work can be done rapidly by helpers at any convenient place in the mill away from the looms and at small expense.

Each cage is detachable from the loom, and its retaining devices grasp and firmly hold-the contained weft-carriers, so that the cages can be handled freely and in any position without danger of accidentally displacing the weft-carriers.

At any convenient time the londed cages are carried to the looms and stacked up .in the loom-magazines. Each magazine is open at its top and also at its outer side, as

During the transfer of illustrated in Fig. 2. As illustrated, the magazine is composed of sheet metal bent into appropriate shape to receive and retain the cages lying horizontally. The cages can be inserted either through the open top or through the open outer side. This open outer side has marginal columns N O to prevent the outward displacement of the cages. v

The lowermost cage when resting on the horizontal guides J J has its feed-lugs i i 7 5 within range of a step-by-step feeding mechanism which feeds the cageforwa-rd whenever the trsnsferrer acts. The feeding mechanism comprises two horizontal sliding racks P P at opposite sides of the magazinesupport I, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, each sliding rack P being suitably guided in the support I, as shown in Fig. 5. -These two rocks P P slide in unison through their rackteeth, (see Figs. 1,7, and 8,) meeting with 8 pinions t at opposite ends of a rotary shaft Q. At its forward end each rack has a. spring-controlled pivoted pawl R, which is adapted to engage the feed-lugs'i 'i on the cage, as shown in Fig. 4. The inner rack i go has pivoted to it an actuatingdink S, which at its forward end has a slot u, (see Fig. 8,) into which enters a laterally projecting pin 1) on an upwardly-projecting arm of the trans lerrer B. Normally the transferrer, ect'ust- 5 in.g-'linl ,snd racks occupy the position shown in Figsfel and 7. I When, however, the translerrer descends to insert a. fresh weftmarner into the loom, the cctustingdinkS is Inc-veil by the pin it to the rear, as shown in Fig. '81 lot thus thrusting both racks P resrwardl During thls rearward movement the sprln controlled feeding-puwls R ride outwardli' i upon the beveled front feces of the feedings.

i i on the active cage, thus having no effect rvfi are notroncurrently restored to their orig; r15- llitl normal position, because the pin '1; on t transferrer moves idly in the slot 11. of the so: rusting-link -S. (Tonsequently the transferrer moves upwardly freely Without being interfered with by the active cage. After the trensferrer has thus been restored to its normal uplifted position a cam 10 (see Fig. l)

on the com-shaft A performs its action upon the lower end of a pivotedgrzWity-restoring lever 'l, whose upper end swings in the path of the inner rock 1 This ca-m netusted restorer then acts upon the resrwsrdly pro jeeted end of the inner reek P and forces it, together with the outer rack and the sctuati lug-link S, into their normal forward position. 1 36 When the trans r 10 the outer wall of the outer side of the cage During this forward movement of the racks l vidcd with an elastic butler Y, which rethcir pawls R R feed the active cage one step ceivcs the impact and changrs the direction forward. i of fall of the cages as they slide off from the Both the restorer and the actuating-link delivery--chutc, thus causing them to land S at its slot carry appropriate elastic. cushright. side up in the chamber provided for 7c ions, so as to avoid any shock upon the cage them. feeding devices. it is important that the cages should be The active cage is limited in its forward placed the right face down and thc right side movement to avoid over-running and to leave in, or, in case this should not be done, that the forward weft-carrier held by it in accuthe effectiveness of the feeding mechanism rate position beneath the transferrer by a should beautomaticallyarrested. One consuitable upwardly-projecting fixed stop U, venient wayofnecessititting the propcrplae- (see Figs. 7 and 8,) against which the butt of ing of the cages in the magazine is by making the leading .vcftcarrier comesin contact, as i the cages and magazinerelatively unsyn1 indicated in Fig. 7. This stop is approprimetrical in a horizontal plane. This is 30 ately located, as indicated by dotted lines in shown in Fig. 2. The forward column N of Fig. 4, so that the cage itself can slide by it the outer side of the magazine is made wider without contact. This registering stop (0- than the rear column 0, as chiarly shown, so acts only with the leading weft-carrier held that while the magazine is wide cnougl'i at its rear to receive the extreme width of the 8',

by the cage. The active cage is further held in proper operative position by means of a cages, (including the outwardly-projecting spring-brake V, (see Fig. 4,) which secured feed lugs i i.) yet at the front thcmagazine is to the support I above the outer guide J, so as of lesser width, so that if the attempt is made to come in contact with and press against to place the cage within thcmagazine upside down or wrong end to the cages will not fit go the magazine. If it should be attempted to turn the cage upside down and wrong side out, then the cage could not be inserted, be cause one of its tlnead-holders would come in contact with the larger column N, and hcncc prevent insertion. By reason, therefore of this unsymmetrical relation between the cages and the n'iagazinc when regarded horizontally it is impossible to place the cages in the magazine except correctly.

'As a further precaution the feed-luqs are so constructed that it the cages shou d bewrongly placrd within the magazine, (as might be the case should the front column N and above the feed-lugs "i 'i. This springbrake steadies the active cage throughout the occupancy of its active position. Each cageis thusi'ed forward step by step until all of its weft-carriers have been transferred to the loom. When the last weft-carrier of the active cage is brought into register with the transfer-rel, said cage no longer affords a sup port to the cages above, within the magazine, and accordingly they drop down by gravity, thus bringing a fresh weft-cage within reach of the feeding-pawls. On' comparing Figs. and it will be seen that the stack of cages drops down entirely back of the feedingpawls, so that said pawls do not interfere with the descent of the cages. i suit, because the misplaced cage could not be The empty cage is fed along forwardly by actuated by the feeding mechanism. As the active cage, as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8, illustrated in Figs. 1t, 12, and 17, the upper until it is brought wholly over the laterally. portion of each feed-lug i is rounded awayoutwardly, and downwardly inclinil'lg deboth forward and aft, as shown at '3]. Con- 11 livery-chute K. 'lhereupon the spent cage scquently if a cage should be placed upside slides by gravity down the chute and into down in the magazine it could not be fed by the recciving-chamber f below. Inorderthat l the spring lced-pawls 1t, since they would the spent cage may be held steady until I ride idly over the lugs in both directions.

wholly above the discharge-chute, a spring- As the result there would be no transfer ofn; linger W is shown in Figs. 2, '7, and S, which fected when the misplaced cage became the engages a series of notches on the lower edge of the inner side of the cage. 'lhcsc notches are conveniently supplied by the lower notched thread-guides r, by this time their otlicc as guides for the thread having been It is not necessary that the thread should completed. The leading edges of the sides be led from the weft-carrier first over a 1 active cage, and the loom would then autol l l of the cage are rounded off, as indicated at w, I thread-guide on the cage itself. A substil l l l l matically stop by means now well known to the art, such as those disclosed in the Northrop patent, No. 529,943, November 27, 1894.

so as to ride over this spting-supporting tin- .utc cimstruction is'shown in Fig. 18,wherein ger W and also to facilitate the drop of the 1 the tip end of the weft-carrier itself is shown 1'25 cage back of the active cage. provided with a notched thread -guide 2, 'lhereceiverX,located belowthedischarge- I through which the thread can be led on its chute J, is provided with two receivingway to the front holder G with satisfactory chambers c f, one for the spent weft ci'irriers results; nor is it necessary that each. cage and the other for the spent cages. It is probccomc damaged) yet no damage could re- 1c 5.

should have-as many thread-holders as there 1 of oil of the weft-carriers mounted in the ills here shown, however, each thread cage. is independently guided to the thread- "holder by the thread-grooves at the base of esch feed-lug i, so that each thread is definitely located with respectto its own Weftcarrier when the transfer takes place.

, it is obvious that many. changes may be made in the various features of this invention Without departing from its main principles. For example, each cage could be constructed so as to carry anyconvenient 1 number of the weft-carriers, and although it is important and desirable that each cage should hold a plurality o'f,.-weft-canicns, yet some of the advantages of theinvention would still be present if the cage was so constructed as to hold but a single weft-carrier.

The transferrer may be set in motion by any. of the Well-known mechanisms now known in the art. its action maybe controlled by the exhaustion of the running Weft, by the approaching exhaustion of the running weft, or by time or pattern mechanism.

i claim as my invention- I 1. A heft-replenishing loom having, in

- combination, a stationary magazine, a horizonta'l guidcwcy beneath said magazine ex tending, forward thereofia stack of superi n posed cages resting on each other and supported on said guidoway within said magazine, each of said cages holding a plurality of Weft-carriers, feeding mechanism cooperating with the lowerirost and active cage, a trans zontal guideway beneath said magazine ex? ferrer which automatically transfers the ior Ward weft-carrier in the active cage into Weaving position in the loom, a. fixed stop cooperating with said forward Weft-carrier to register it with the trcnsfcrrer, a connect-ion between said trensferrer and feed mechanism to movesaid feeding mechanism in one direction, and n cam-actuatingrestorcr to move said feeding mechanism and the active cage into the opposite direction.

2. A Weft-replenishing loom having, in combination, a stationary magazine, a horitencling forward thereof, a stack of superimposed cages resting on each other and sup ported on said guideway within said magazinc, each of said cages holding a plurality of Wclt-cerriers, feeding nechunism cooperating with the lowermost and active cage, 21 transferrer which automatically transfers the forward Welt-carrier in the active cage into Weaving position in the loom, and. means for automatically actuating said feeding mechanism each time the transferrcr 3. A weft-replenishing loom having, in combination, a magazine, a guideuay lieneath said magazine extending forward therel of, a stack of superimposed cages resting on g each other and supported on-said guidewav I within said magazine, each ol said. cages holding a plurality of Weft-carriers, feeding mechunis-11 cooperating with the lowermost and active cage/a. transferrer which automatically transfers the forward Weft-carrier in the active into Weavingposition in loom, and means for automatically actuating feeding mechanism each time the transferrer acts.

4. A Weftreplenishing loom having, in combination, a magazine, guidcrvay beneath said i'nagazine extending forward thereof, astack oil superimposed cages resting on each other and supported on said guideway within said magazine, each of said cages holding a Weft-carrier, feeding mechantive cage, a transfer'rer which automatically transfers a wcft-carricr from the active cage into Weaving position in the loom, and means for automatically actuating said feeding mechanism each time the transferrer acts.

5. A weft-rcplenishing loom having, in combination, a magazine, a lurality oi cages within said magazine, eac'.1' of said holding a plurality of weft-can iers, feeding mechanism cooperating with said cages, and a translcrror which automatically trsnsi'erc the cooperatively]coated weft-carrier into Weaving po iiion in the loom.

6. A \rcl'treplenishing loom having, in combination, a magazine, a plurality of cages each holding aiweft-carrier, feeding mechanism cooperating with said cages, and a trcnsferrcr which automatically transfers a weft-carrier from the cooperativclydocateai cage into Weaving position in the loom.

l 7. A weft-replenishing loom l'iaving, in l combination, a plurality of inde enrlent l cages, each having 11 cans to remova ly hold a weft-carrier at both of its ends, and automatic means for removing said weftcarriers from their cages.

8. A weft-replenishing loom having, in combination, a plurality of cages each adapt ed to hold a plurality of removable weft-car riers, and automatic means for removing said weft-carriers from their cages.

9. A Weft-replenishing loom having, combination, a plurality of cages each adapted to hold a re'novable Weft-carrier, and auto matic nzeans for removing said Weft-carriers from their cages.

10. A welt-replenishing loom. having, in (mmbinntiOIn-a guidewcy, a cage holding a, plurality of weft-carriers and supported on, said guirleway, said cage having on each side outwardly-projecting ice l-lugs beveled on their forward faces, two horizontally-sliding racks geared together on opposite sides respectively of said cage, :0, spring-controlled pawl pivoted to; tch rack and adapted to engage said feecl' lugs, said pavls riding idly ism cooperating with the lowermost and acover said feeddugs when moved backwardly and actin on said lugs to feed the cage when moving 'orwardly, a reciprocating transferrer which. ejects the forward weft-carrier in said cage, an actuating-link pivoted to one of said racks, a pin-and-slot connection between said actuating-link and transferrer whereby the transfcrrer moves the racks backwardly on its weft-carricr-ejccting move1nent, but has no effect when moving in the other direction, a restore! to move said racks forward, and a rotary cam to move said restorer.

11. A wet't-repienishing loom having, in

combination, a gnideway, a weft-carrier cage supported on said gnidoway, said cage hav ing on each side ontwardly-projecting feedings, two sliding racks moving in unison on opposite sides respectively of said cage, a spring-controlled )awl pivoted to each rack and engaging said feed-lugs, said pawls riding idly over said fecd-lugs when moved bacliwardly and acting on said lugs to feed the cage when moving fO1'\-iLI'('il a reciino eating transferrer which ejects the forward weft-carrier in said cage, an actuating-hill;

pivoted to one of said racks, a connection between said actin'iting-hnk and transterrcr whereby the transferrer moves the racks li ackwardly on its eft-carrien-ejecting movement, but has no effect when moving in the other direction, a. restorer to move said racks forward, and a rotary cam to move said restorer.

12. A wefta'eplenishing loom having, in combination, a guideway, a eftcarrier cage on said guideway, said cage having ontwardlyproiecting food-lugs, a sliding rack, a pawl on said rack engaging said feed-lugs, a transferrcr which a weft-carrier in said cage, means for moving the rack backwardly at each action of the transferrcr, and a restorer independent of said transfer-rel" to move said rack forward.

13. A 'eft'.-replenishing loom having, in combination, a lay, an automatically-thrcading shuttle, a cage, a support for said cage, :1 weft-carrier held by said cage with its butt toward the selvage ot'=thc cloth, a weft-end holder on the cage between the wqft-cz'irricr butt and the cloth sclvage, a thread-guide near the weft-carrier tipfor the thread on its way from-the weft-carrier to said weft-end holder, and a transf'errer which antoimitically transfers said weft-carrier from said cage into the shuttle on the lay,

14. A weft-replenishing loom having, in combination, a lay, an automaticallytln'eading shuttle, a cage, a support for said cage, a weft-carrier held by said cage with its butt toward the selvage of the cloth, a weft-end holder at the inner side of the cage next the cloth selvage, a thrcail-guide near the weftcarrler tip for the thread on its way from the Weft-carrier to said welt-end holder, and a l l l l l u l i l l l i l l I l I 15. A weft-replenishing loom having, in

combina tion, a lay, an a1itomatically-thrcading shuttle, a cage, a weft-carrier held by said cage with its butt toward the selvagc of the cloth, a weft-end holder at the side of the age next the cloth sclvagc, a thrcad-guide near the wcft carrier tip for the thread on its way from the weft-carrier to said threadholder, and a transfcrrer which automatically transfers said weftcarrier from said cage into the shuttle on the lay.

16. A weft-replenishing loom having, in combination, an automaticallythreading shuttle, a cage, a weft-carrier held by said cage, a cit-end holder at the side of the cage next the cloth selvngc, and a transferrer which antomaticnlly transfers said weft-carrier from said cage into the shuttle.

1?. A weftrcplenishing loom having, in coml'iination, a guidewa for weftwarrier cages, each of said cages having a series of notches on the lower edge of-its inner side, means for feeding said cages step by step along said guidcway, means for ejecting the \\'efr-cariiers one by one from said cages, an inclined tlclivery-chutc for receiving and discharging the spent cages, and a spring-finger mgaging said notches in succession to steady each cage until wholly over said delivery chute.

18. A weft-replenislting loom having, in combination, a guideway for weft-carrier cages, means for feeding said cages step by step along. said gnideway, means for ejecting the weft-carriers one by one from said cages, and an inclined delivery-chute for receiving and discharging the'spcnt cages.

19. A wcft-rcplcnisliing loom ln'iving, in combination, wcft-carrier cages; means for feeding said cages step by step, means "for automatically ejecting the weft-carriers one by one from said agcs, and means for receiving and discharging the spent cages.

20. ii weft-rcplenishing loom having, in combination, weft-carrier tages, means for antonmticallv feeding said cages, means for automatically ejecting the weft-carriers from said cages, and a receiver for the spent cages.

21. A weft-replcnislring loom havig, in combination, guidcway, a cage on said guideway having feed-lugs, and feed mechanism acting on said 1 rs, said lugs being run controllable by said fo. ling mechanism if the cage is misplaced on the gnideway.

A 'wcft-replenishing loom having, in combination, a guideway, a cage moving thereon and a brake acting on said cage.

23. A weft-re lenishing loom having a magazine holding wcft-carrying cages, said magazine and cages being relatively nnsymmetrical to obviate misplacing the cagcs in the magazine roe Weftoerriers, said cage having a socket for the butt of each Weftwcrricr, e yielding latch for the tip or each Wcitmnrricr (each socket having means to prevent d isploceinent of its Weft-carrier except by n hingthivise movement thereof, involving the yielding of the.

corresponding lstcln) a. oft-end holder on theonter Wall of the inner side of the cage for each Weft-carrier, a guide on cech latch for the thread on its way from the Weft-oerri er to the proper weft-end holder, and threndgroovcs'in the inner side of the cage to protect each thread on its way to its Weft.- end holder.

25. A cago'i'or a weft-repienishing looni adopted to hold and carry a plurality of weft-carriers, said cage having :1 socket for the butt of each Weft-carrier, c yiclding latch for the tip of each weft-carrier (each svcket having means to prevent displacement of its Weft-carrier except by a lengthwise movement thereof, involving the yielding of the corresponding lately) e weft-end holder on the outer'wall of the inner side of the cage for each Weft-carrier and a guide on each latch for the thread on its Way from the wett- 5 carrier to the proper Weft-end holder.

26. -A cage for s weft-replenishing loom adopted to hold and carry a plurality-of Weft-carriers, said. cage having a. socket for the butt of each eft-carrier, a yielding latch for the tip ofcacli weft-carrier. (each socket having means to prevent displacement of its Weft-carrier Xcept by c lengthwisenmve inent thereof, involving the yielding of the corresponding lately) it weft-end. holder on the outer wall of the inner side of the cage for each Weft-carrier, and :1 guide at the Woftcarrier tip for the thread on its way from the Weft-carrier to the proper weft-end holder.

27. A cage for e Weft-replcnishiilg loom adapted to hold and carry a plurality of weft-carriers, said cage having; s. socket for the butt of each Welt-carrier, e yielding latch for the tip of each we t-cerrier, and; a weft-end holder for each Weft-carrier.

28. A cage for a Weft-replenishing loom adopted to hold and carry o plurality of welt-carriers having a weft-end holder for each Weft-carrier.

29. A cage adapted to hold and carry 21 1 weft-carrier, said having it Weft-end holder on the outer Wtlll of one side,- and thread-grooves in said side to protect the thread on its way to its weft-end holder.

3!). A V\'(ll trTUPlQl'llSllliflg lOOHFlXtLVlIIg, in cond imilion, an

nutoinntimilly-thrending see-r07 shuttle, a plurality of spore Weft-seniors; means for feeding said Weft-oarrlers into transferring position, Weft-end holders bssaid Weftend holders advancing with their which automatically transfers said Weft-o'er riers into Weaving position in the loom.

31. A Weft-replenishing loom having, in combination, a lay, e plurality of spare Weft ccrriers, neons for feeding soid Weft-carriers into transferring position,-Weftend holders between said ivel't-czn'rici's and the cloth selvngc, said weit-nd holders sdvo'ncing; with the respective WQi lFC/UFlPIS, thrcadguidcs near the other ends of said weft-cerriers for the threads on their Way from the Weft-cs1- riers to said holders, said guides advancing with their respective Weft'csrriors, end a trcrstcrrcr which automatically transfers said weft-carriers. into weaving position in the loom.

32. A Woioreplenishing loom having, in -on1hinoi'ion, a plurality of spare Welt-cerriers, moans feeding said weft-carriers into transferring position, Wcit-end holders between the Weft-carriers and the cloth selvcg; said weft-end holders advancing With their respective Weft-carriers, and a transferrer which automatically transfers said welt-carriers into Weaving )0Slll0l1 in the loom. i

33-. fr cage adopted to hold and carry a weltcorrier; said cage having a socket for the butt or each We t-earrier, said socket having,

35.- fr detachable for an automatic Weit-rcplenisliing loom having means to grcspand hold a plurality ofremovsble WQli-(iftliflBF-S. o

36. A detachable cage for on autonistic' weft-replenishing loom having moons to grasp and hold a removable Weft-carrier, and

roving also a wet-bond holder.

ln WlillQSS whereof l have hereunto sinned my news in the presence of two suhscrihing witnesses.

l /QUEER Flt Elllfi RIC ROPER.

W itnesses:

ilLAHE ll. Dir-wen, J. E. WAm-ncn.

tween the Weft-cnrriers and. the cloth selv e s,

IlO 

